In 2006, Travis Matte and his Kingpins rocked the House of Blues in New Orleans so hard, he later received a complimentary email from Saints coach Sean Payton. The following year, Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin fame) slipped into one of the Kingpins’ local gigs and later told Matte he hadn’t danced that much in 10 years.

Those gigs are definitely Matte’s golden moments. But he ranks the band’s annual appearance at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival right up there with them.

“We’ve been playing that stage for so many years,” said Matte. “It just keep getting bigger and better.

“Everybody is having a good time and it gets us going too. It’s my favorite every year.”

Matte and the Kingpins return as Saturday night headliners at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival at Parc Hardy. The band plays from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday on the Festival Stage. (A complete schedule is available at bbcrawfest.com.)

Besides playing fan favorites, Matte and the Kingpins will feature songs from their new CD, “X,” which was released just before Mardi Gras. The title is the Roman numeral for 10, signifying the band’s 10th CD.

The all-original, 15-song disc features more of the party-style Cajun, zydeco and rock sound that has entertained festival and club crowds for the past 10 years. “She’s on Fiya,” with a separate club mix, and the “Mardi Gras Parade” lead the party songs. Matte even pulls out his fiddle for “Pas Bon Femme” (No Good Woman.)

But with all the high-energy tunes, the CD has ballads that may be stealing the show. A slow drag called “When She’s Alone” is already becoming a top request.

“That one seems to be getting the biggest response,” said Matte. “When we do private parties out of state, I know what songs they’re going to like. But they say their favorite one is that.

“Even some older people that just like the hardcore Cajun music have jumped on it and that really threw me for a curve. We just came off a fishing trip and a guy told that for him – and his dad – that was their favorite song.

“I would have thought him, but not his dad, because he’s so old school. I would have never dreamed in a million years that would be a song that they would like.”

The “X” CD follows in the footsteps of Matte’s “Old Time Cajun Songs.” The disc, filled with Cajun standards like “Lacassine Special” and “Went to the Dance,” is a reminder that Matte hasn’t forgotten his roots.

“Our crowd prefers the old stuff, but this brings in a whole different audience. We didn’t even label that one as a Kingpins release. We were just paying homage to the stuff we grew up with.

“But it’s not just Cajun music. I grew up with swamp pop, zydeco and world music, as well. But this is one of the genres that inspired me as far as being a musician.”

Matte said the band, as always, plans to keep it lively at the Crawfish Festival.

“We never played with a set list. We just look at the crowd.

“If they’re hot and pumping at the Crawfish Festival, you’re not going to do that many slow songs. It’s a different feel. Everybody is having a good time.”